Thunder Weekly (december 18-26): Thunder Victorious In San Jose

Published on December 18, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: (all times PT)

at ALASKA ACES

Wednesday, Friday-Saturday - Dec. 19, 21-22 - 8:15 p.m.

Radio: 1280 AM KWSX/ StocktonThunder.com**

The Thunder continues a six game road trip by visiting the Alaska Aces at Sullivan Arena. The two teams square off Wednesday to begin a three game series in Anchorage. The Thunder is 28-26-14 against Alaska in the lifetime series. Alaska carries four players with NHL playing experience on their roster: forwards Scott Gomez, Brandon Dubinsky (21-day injured reserve list), Joey Crabb and Nate Thompson. The Thunder is 2-1-0 against Alaska this season and last faced the Aces on Nov. 28 in a 6-2 loss at Stockton Arena. Alaska comes off a 2-1 shootout win at Utah last Saturday.

** Online only broadcast for Wednesday and Friday

The team's upcoming schedule for this week is as follows :

(subject to change, all times PT)

Wednesday, DEC. 19

12:15 p.m. - Morning skate at Sullivan Arena

8:15 p.m. - GAME at ALASKA (Sullivan Arena)

StocktonThunder.com

Thursday, DEC. 20

Noon - Practice at Sullivan Arena

Friday, DEC. 21

12:15 p.m. - Morning skate at Sullivan Arena

8:15 p.m. - GAME at ALASKA (Sullivan Arena)

StocktonThunder.com

Saturday, DEC. 22

12:15 p.m. - Morning skate at Sullivan Arena

8:15 p.m. - GAME at ALASKA (Sullivan Arena)

1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

DEC. 23-25

Holiday break

Wednesday, DEC. 26

6:00 p.m. - Practice at Stockton Arena

2012-13 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Toni Rajala (28)

Goals - Toni Rajala (16) - T-4, ECHL

Assists - Yannick Riendeau (19)

Plus/Minus - Eric Hunter (+14)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (108) - 3rd, ECHL

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 4 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Mike Little is 4 games away from 100 in his ECHL career

- Yannick Riendeau is 17 assists away from 100 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES

- Justin Maylan is tied for the ECHL rookie scoring lead with 26 points

- Toni Rajala is tied for fourth in the ECHL with 16 goals

- Rajala earned his first career hat trick on Monday at San Jose (6-4 win vs. San Francisco)

- Stockton is tied for fourth in the ECHL with 3.7 goals per game

- Stockton ranks fourth in the ECHL at 22.6 percent on the power play

- Stockton is 8-0-2 when leading after one period

WEEK IN REVIEW

STK 6 - SF 4 (12/17/12): The Stockton Thunder (15-7-5, 35 points) squared off against the San Francisco Bulls at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. The spotlight brought out the best of the Thunder as they defeated the Bulls for the first time this season in a wild 6-4 contest in front of 12,881 fans in San Jose. The Thunder received a stellar effort from forward Toni Rajala, who recorded the team's first hat trick of the season and first in over a calendar year. Goaltender Cody Reichard (7-1-2) earned the win, stopping 25 shots.

COL 2 - STK 1 (12/15/12): Goaltender Adam Brown made 40 saves on 41 shots, holding off a furious rally from the Stockton Thunder (14-7-5, 33 points) to secure a 2-1 win for the Colorado Eagles in front of 5,291 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who missed their two leading scorers (Harrison Reed and Toni Rajala) due to injuries, avoided a home shutout for the first time since falling to Ontario 4-0 on Dec. 2, 2011. Center Eric Hunter notched the lone Thunder goal late in the third period. Goaltender Tyler Bunz (8-6-3) recorded 31 stops for the Thunder.

STK 4 - COL 1 (12/14/12): In the first meeting between these two teams since the first round of last season's Kelly Cup playoffs, the Stockton Thunder (14-6-3-2, 33 points) proved it still carries the momentum, rolling past the Colorado Eagles 4-1 at Stockton Arena on Friday. Goaltender Cody Reichard posted his third stellar performance at home, recording 25 saves on 26 shots. Center Harrison Reed recorded two goals, while forward Yannick registered two assists in his seven multi-point game of the season. Colorado's Kyle Jones made 30 stops in goal.

SF 4 - STK 3 (OT) (12/13/12): Peter Sivak's power play goal, just 1:13 into sudden death overtime, helped the San Francisco Bulls send the Stockton Thunder (13-6-5, 31 points) to a 4-3 overtime defeat before 2,549 fans at the Cow Palace on Thursday. The Thunder, who squandered a pair of one goal leads in the third period, garnered a point in for the fifth time in the last six games. Thomas Heemskerk earned the win for the Bulls with 33 stops.

Season Tickets, Group Tickets and Mini-Plans for 2012-13 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.StocktonThunder.com.

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